Genesis 43

1 The famine was severe in the land. 2 When they had finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us a little food." 3 But Judah said to him, "The man solemnly testified against us: 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.' 4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'" 6 Israel said, "Why did you do me this wrong by telling the man that you had another brother?" 7 They said, "The man kept asking about us and our family. He asked, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' We answered his questions. How could we possibly know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?" 8 Then Judah said to his father Israel, "Send the boy with me, and let us get up and go. Then we will live and not die, we and you and our little ones.

9 I myself will pledge myself for him. You may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him to you and set him before you, then I will bear the sin against you for all time. 10 For if we had not delayed, we could have gone there and come back twice by now." 11 Their father Israel said to them, "If that is how it is, then do this. Take some of the land's famous produce in your containers, and take it down to the man as a gift. Take a little balm and a little honey, gum and resin, pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the money with you, and take back the money that was returned in the mouths of your packs. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother too, and get up and go back to the man. 14 May El Shaddai give you mercy before the man, and may the man release your other brother and Benjamin to you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved." 15 So the men took this gift, and they took double the money with them, and Benjamin. They got up and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the man in charge of his house, "Bring the men into the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, because the men will eat with me at noon."

17 The man did as Joseph said, and he brought the men into Joseph's house. 18 The men were afraid because they had been brought into Joseph's house. They said, "We are being brought in because of the money that was put back in our packs the first time. He wants to roll over us and fall on us, and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys." 19 So they went up to the man in charge of Joseph's house and spoke to him at the doorway of the house. 20 They said, "Please, my lord, we did come down the first time to buy food. 21 But when we came to the place where we stopped for the night and opened our packs, there was each man's money in the mouth of his pack, our money in its full weight. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought other money with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our packs." 23 The steward said, "Peace to you. Do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you a hidden treasure in your packs. I received your money." Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 The steward brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He also gave feed to their donkeys.

25 They got the gift ready for Joseph's arrival at noon, because they had heard that they would eat a meal there. 26 When Joseph came home, they brought him the gift they had with them into the house, and they bowed down to him to the ground. 27 Joseph asked them how they were. Then he said, "Is your old father well, the one you spoke about? Is he still alive?" 28 They said, "Your servant our father is well. He is still alive." And they bowed down low. 29 Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son. He said, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" Then he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Joseph hurried out, because his mercy grew warm toward his brother and he wanted to weep. He went into the inner room and wept there. 31 Then Joseph washed his face and came out. He held himself back and said, "Serve the meal." 32 They served Joseph by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat a meal with the Hebrews, for that is detestable to the Egyptians.

33 They sat before Joseph, from the firstborn by his birthright down to the youngest by his age. And the men looked at one another in amazement. 34 Joseph had portions carried to them from in front of him, and Benjamin's portion was five times as large as any of theirs. And they drank and got drunk with him.